Method and system for an exercise apparatus with streaming capability

ABSTRACT

Exemplary embodiments of a method and system of an exercise apparatus are provided where an exercise apparatus provides exercise data pertaining to a user&#39;s physical activity to an electronic device wirelessly in real time. The exercise apparatus can have an accelerometer for recording exercise data pertaining to a user&#39;s physical activity, and a wireless transceiver for streaming the exercise data to an electronic device in real time. The electronic device can be a mobile phone, smartphone, laptop, tablet, or other similar electronic device. The electronic device can have a software application that can display the exercise data to a user.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application relates to and claims priority from U.S. patent application Ser. No. 61/748,861 filed Jan. 4, 2013, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates to exemplary embodiments of methods and systems for providing an exercise apparatus, and more particularly, to exemplary embodiments of methods and systems for providing an exercise status with streaming capability to an electronic device.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Many users who walk/jog have difficultly determining or assessing an intensity of their walking pace in order to optimize the health benefits from their physical activity. Recent studies have identified an optimum number of steps per minute an individual has to perform in order to achieve a moderate to intense level of a walking pace in order to optimize the health benefits from physical activity.

It would be useful for users to be able to know in real time how fast they are walking or jogging, and if such a speed is correlating to a moderate to intense level so that they are maximizing the potential health benefits from the physical activity being taken.

SUMMARY OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS OF THE DISCLOSURE

At least some of the above described problems can be addressed by exemplary embodiments of the methods and systems according to the present disclosure. For example, using such exemplary embodiments, it is possible to provide methods and systems that provide exercise data of a user's physical activity wirelessly (e.g., Bluetooth or other type or wireless connection) to an electronic device in real time. The electronic device can be a mobile phone, smartphone, tablet, laptop or other similar electronic device. The electronic device can have a software application providing the physical activity (e.g., number of steps per minute) on a display of the electronic device.

The present disclosure describes exemplary embodiments of methods and systems that can provide for an exercise apparatus comprising an accelerometer for recording exercise data pertaining to a user's physical activity, and a wireless transceiver for streaming the exercise data to an electronic device. The exercise apparatus can have a display for providing a visual indication of the user's physical activity. The exercise apparatus can also have a processor for processing information relating to the user's physical activity, a storage for storing information relating to the user's physical activity, and/or a battery for powering the exercise apparatus. The accelerometer can comprise a 3d sensor, a 4d sensor or other type of sensor. The electronic device can be a mobile phone, smartphone, tablet, laptop or other electronic device.

In some exemplary embodiments, a method of providing exercise data can be provided, comprising recording exercise data pertaining to a user's physical activity on an exercise apparatus, and streaming the exercise data from the exercise apparatus to an electronic device. The exercise data can be streamed to the electronic device in real time. The method can further comprise displaying the exercise data on a display of the exercise apparatus for providing a visual indication of the user's physical activity. The method can further comprise storing information relating to the user's physical activity. The exercise data can be recorded using an accelerometer, which can be a 3d sensor, a 4d sensor or other type of sensor. The electronic device can be a mobile phone, smartphone, tablet, laptop or other electronic device.

In some exemplary embodiments, a computer-accessible medium can be provided which contains thereon software for providing multimedia, wherein, when a processing arrangement executes the software, the processing arrangement is configured to perform procedures comprising recording exercise data pertaining to a user's physical activity on an exercise apparatus, and streaming the exercise data from the exercise apparatus to an electronic device. The exercise data can be streamed to the electronic device in real time. The processing arrangement can be further configured to perform procedures comprising displaying the exercise data on a display of the exercise apparatus for providing a visual indication of the user's physical activity. The processing arrangement can be further configured to perform procedures comprising storing information relating to the user's physical activity. The exercise data can be recorded using an accelerometer, which can be a 3d sensor, a 4d sensor or other type of sensor.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description of embodiments of the present disclosure, when taken in conjunction with the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other exemplary objects of the present disclosure will be apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying exemplary drawings and claims, in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

Throughout the figures, the same reference numerals and characters, unless otherwise stated, are used to denote like features, elements, components or portions of the illustrated embodiments. Moreover, while the subject disclosure will now be described in detail with reference to the figures, it is done so in connection with the illustrative embodiments. It is intended that changes and modifications can be made to the described embodiments without departing from the true scope and spirit of the subject disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS OF DISCLOSURE

Exemplary embodiments of the methods and systems of the present disclosure will now be described with reference to the figure.

FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of a system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. An exercise apparatus 100 having a display 110 can be provided for a user. The exercise apparatus can also be provided without a display, or have any other form of display activity data (e.g., LED's or other types of visual displays). The exercise apparatus 100 can have but is not limited to, e.g., a battery 120, a display 110, an accelerometer 130 (which can be in any form, such as a 3d sensor, 4d sensor or other type), a processor 140, integrated circuitry (not shown), a wireless transceiver 150 (e.g., Bluetooth, ANT+, or other RF communication protocols), and/or a storage 155 for storing exercise data relating to one or more users. The accelerometer 130 in the exercise apparatus 100 can process step data and related data (e.g., steps walked, calories burned, distance travelled). The exercise apparatus 100 can have a wireless connection 160 with an electronic device 170, such as a mobile phone, smartphone, tablet, laptop, or other similar electronic device. The electronic device 170 can have storage to record and store the data received from the exercise apparatus 100.

The exercise apparatus 100 can be kept by the user in his/her pocket, worn with a belt clip or other clip, attached to an armband or wristband, or attached to a body part of the user, such as the ankle The exercise apparatus 100 is not limited to any type of attachment mode or method, and the present disclosure contemplates various ways in which a user may carry/wear the exercise apparatus 100. The exercise apparatus 100 can be a mobile phone or tablet or any other type of electronic device with an internal accelerometer or other steps/movement tracking integrated circuits, including, but not limited to, a M7 motion co-processor.

The exercise apparatus 100 can be put in a streaming mode, in which the accelerometer 130 of the exercise apparatus 100 provides step data in real time (e.g., while walking/jogging) via a wireless signal (e.g., Bluetooth or other type of wireless connection) to the electronic device 170. The electronic device 170 can have a software application that can process the step data received wirelessly from the exercise apparatus 100, and use this data to determine the walking speed of the person who is wearing the exercise apparatus 100. For example, an algorithm programmed within the software application can identify the steps per minute walked or jogged by the user. The software application on the electronic device 170 can also graphically show on a display 180 how fast the user is walking in real time. The electronic device 170 can also use internal motion detection integrated circuit (e.g., a M7 motion co-processor) to display step data in real time. The display 180 can display various data, such as the number of steps, aerobic steps, time (e.g., total time, interval times, aerobic time), distance, speed, calories, goal, percentage of goal completed, or other relevant information. The display 180 can also provide a history of all days a user has used the exercise apparatus 100, or a number of days set by the user.

The software application can also tell the user how fast they should be walking to achieve a predetermined intensity level. For example, the user can choose a slow, medium or high intensity level workout, and the electronic device 170 can display how fast the user is walking, how fast they should be walking to achieve the desired intensity level, and if they are achieving it. The display 180 of the electronic device can display this data, as well as the time, total time, aerobic time, etc. The user can readjust their walking pace to be in the recommended walking zone (e.g., 100-150 steps/min) in order to achieve the desired intensity. The software application can also use gyroscopes, compasses or pressure sensors to calculate intensity and determine the speed, steps and calorie burn, as well as other relevant data.

Various other considerations can also be addressed in the exemplary applications described according to the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. The exemplary embodiments of the methods and systems described herein can provide, e.g., a user with real time data of their walking rate, whether a desired intensity level is being achieved, and how to achieve it. Various real-time data can be provided such as but not limited to steps per minute, time, etc.

The exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure can be used in various configurations and in different systems. Various computing arrangements can be provided, and the electronic device and exercise apparatus can have a processor(s) configured or programmed to perform the exemplary steps and/or procedures of the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure described above. Various data described above can be stored in various storage arrangements (e.g., hard drive, memory device, such as RAM, ROM, memory stick, floppy drive, other tangible computer-accessible medium, etc.) in the electronic device and exercise apparatus. The processor(s) can access the storage arrangement(s) to execute a computer program or a set of instructions (stored on or in the storage arrangement) which can perform the procedures according to the exemplary embodiments of the methods and systems of the present disclosure. The software application on the electronic device can record and save the data of each walk or run the user performs, and compare the data between different days and/or provide them on a graph. The exercise apparatus 100 can be used by different users and can record exercise data of various individuals and stream such data to one or more electronic devices.

The foregoing merely illustrates the principles of the disclosure. Various modifications and alterations to the described embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the teachings herein. It will thus be appreciated that those skilled in the art will be able to devise numerous systems, arrangements, manufacture and methods which, although not explicitly shown or described herein, embody the principles of the disclosure and are thus within the spirit and scope of the disclosure. The disclosures of all documents and publications cited herein are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An exercise apparatus, comprising: an accelerometer for recording exercise data pertaining to a user's physical activity; and a wireless transceiver for streaming the exercise data to an electronic device.
 2. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a display for providing a visual indication of the user's physical activity.
 3. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a processor for processing information relating to the user's physical activity.
 4. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a storage for storing information relating to the user's physical activity.
 5. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a battery for powering the exercise apparatus.
 6. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein the accelerometer comprises a 3d sensor, a 4d sensor or other type of sensor.
 7. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electronic device is one of a mobile phone, smartphone, tablet, laptop or other electronic device.
 8. A method of providing exercise data, comprising: recording exercise data pertaining to a user's physical activity on an exercise apparatus; and streaming the exercise data from the exercise apparatus to an electronic device.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the exercise data is streamed to the electronic device in real time.
 10. The method of claim 8, further comprising: displaying the exercise data on a display of the exercise apparatus for providing a visual indication of the user's physical activity.
 11. The method of claim 8, further comprising: storing information relating to the user's physical activity.
 12. The method of claim 8, wherein the exercise data is recorded using an accelerometer.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the accelerometer comprises a 3d sensor, a 4d sensor or other type of sensor.
 14. The method of claim 8, wherein the electronic device is one of a mobile phone, smartphone, tablet, laptop or other electronic device.
 15. A computer-accessible medium which contains thereon software for providing multimedia, wherein, when a processing arrangement executes the software, the processing arrangement is configured to perform procedures comprising: recording exercise data pertaining to a user's physical activity on an exercise apparatus; and streaming the exercise data from the exercise apparatus to an electronic device.
 16. The computer-accessible medium according to claim 15, wherein the exercise data is streamed to the electronic device in real time.
 17. The computer-accessible medium according to claim 15, wherein the processing arrangement is further configured to perform procedures comprising: displaying the exercise data on a display of the exercise apparatus for providing a visual indication of the user's physical activity.
 18. The computer-accessible medium according to claim 15, wherein the processing arrangement is further configured to perform procedures comprising: storing information relating to the user's physical activity.
 19. The computer-accessible medium according to claim 15, wherein the exercise data is recorded using an accelerometer.
 20. The computer-accessible medium according to claim 19, wherein the accelerometer comprises a 3d sensor, a 4d sensor or other type of sensor. 